Nuclear Decay

Front

What is nuclear decay?

Back

Nuclear decay is the process by which an unstable atomic nucleus loses energy by emitting radiation, resulting in the transformation of the nucleus into a different state.

Front

What can happen to a radioactive element after its nucleus undergoes changes?

Back

A radioactive element can transform into a different isotope of the same element or into an entirely different element.

Front

Which particles are unstable and form radioactive material?

Back

Nuclei are the unstable particles that can form radioactive material.

Front

What is alpha decay?

Back

Alpha decay is a type of radioactive decay in which an atomic nucleus emits an alpha particle (2 protons and 2 neutrons), resulting in a new element.

Front

What is beta decay?

Back

Beta decay is a type of radioactive decay in which a nucleus emits a beta particle (an electron or positron), transforming a neutron into a proton or vice versa.

Front

What is gamma decay?

Back

Gamma decay is a type of radioactive decay that involves the emission of gamma rays, which are high-energy photons, without changing the number of protons or neutrons in the nucleus.

Front

What is an isotope?

Back

An isotope is a variant of a chemical element that has the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons in its nucleus.

Front

What is the significance of half-life in nuclear decay?

Back

Half-life is the time required for half of the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay, indicating the stability and rate of decay of the isotope.

Front

What is the equation for alpha decay of polonium-214?

Back

The equation for alpha decay of polonium-214 is: \(^{214}_{84}Po \rightarrow ^{210}_{82}Pb + ^{4}_{2}He\) (alpha particle).

Front

How can you identify beta decay from a nuclear equation?

Back

In beta decay, a neutron is converted into a proton, resulting in an increase in the atomic number by 1, while the mass number remains unchanged.